How do we ensure everyone has a fair chance to access lifelong learning?
What are the most effective ways to engage people in learning?
Lifelong learning has many benefits, including helping people to find work and build a career; improving health and wellbeing; and supporting community engagement and active citizenship. Its importance is growing as longer life expectancy combines with a rapidly changing economy and society.
However, participation in learning has fallen over the last decade with large inequalities in access to learning by age, socioeconomic group, region and nation, and prior educational attainment. Our work is focused on understanding patterns of participation in learning, researching the benefits, and developing ways to engage people in learning.
Our work on learning and retraining focuses on understanding who takes part in learning, the best ways to engage adults in learning, and to deliver learning that fits around work and personal life and benefits people and employers.
Our survey series, which began in 1996, provides a unique overview of how many adults take part in learning, their reasons for doing so or not doing so, and how this varies by group and area.
Our work includes research into successful approaches to increasing investment in learning and skills throughout life. We believe the UK needs a lifelong learning strategy that balances investment from people, employers and the government.
Our research shows that learning in a community context engages more people in learning, makes communities stronger, brings better attainment for adults and their families and builds a more tolerant society with active citizenship
Festival of Learning is the biggest celebration of lifelong learning in England, showcasing the remarkable achievements of adults who have used learning to transform their lives, and highlighting how lifelong learning benefits society and the economy
Learning and Work Institute works with partners in a number of other countries to share best practice and experiences.